Surgical cutters with clamp retaining means



Jan. 19, 1965 T. c. MAYER 3,165,971

SURGICAL CUTTERS wrm CLAMP RETAINING MEANS Filed June 10, 1963 INVENTOR 1 n 7710/1445 6'. MAYER ATTORNEY 8 United States Patent 3,166,071 SURGICAL CUTTER?) WITH-[CLAMP RETAEQING MEANS Thomas C. Mayer, Barking, Essex, England (163 Longwood Gardens, Iiford, Essex, England) Filed lune ill, 1%3, Ser. No. 286,855 3 Claims. (Ci. 12$-318) This invention relates to surgical cutters for use in cutting an anatomical member which is required to be clamped at least at one side of the cutting position. The invention is particularly, although not exclusively, applicable to surgical cutters 'for cutting an umbilical cord which is required to be clamped on both sides of thecut ting position.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved surgical cutter, and according to the invention the cutter comprises a pair of blades each attached to a handle and a hinge coupling between said bladesand handles to form a pair of scissors, constraining means normally constraining said pair of scissors to a position in which the blades are held apart, a first clamp retaining member on one side of said scissors, disposed and coupled to said scissors at a position close to said hinge coupling, a recess in said first clamp retaining member facing the blade end of said scissors, second and third clamp retaining members, one mounted on each blade, disposed adjacent the ends of the respective blades remote from the handles and both on said one side of the scissors, and recesses in said second and third clamp retaining members facing each other, so that the recesses in said second and third clamp retaining members are spaced apart when the blades of the scissors are apart, and said recesses in the second and third clamp retaining members are in proximity and substantial alignment with each other when the blades of the scissors are partially overlying each other in a closed position. The constraining means can conveniently comprise spring means between the handles of the pair of scissors, said spring means normally urging said handles and the blades apart from each other. If desired further clamp retaining members may be provided, on the other side of the scissors.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect it will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are respective plan and side elevations of a surgical cutter according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of clamp retaining means of the cutter of FIGURES l and 2, and

FIGURE 4 shows a clamp suitable for use in a surgical cutter according to the invention.

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, as ap plied to surgical cutters suitable for cutting an umbilical cord and including provision for clamping the cord on both sides of the cutting position.

The cutters in the embodiment of the invention illustrated are in the form of a pair of scissors, that is having a pair of blades 1 and 2, each coupled to a handle 3, 4 and the blades being hinged together at a position 5 between each blade 1, 2 and handle 3, 4 in such a way that when the handles 3 and 4 are brought together the blades 1 and 2 move to a position in which they are in proximity to each other and overlie each other, the act of moving the blades 1 and 2 to said overlying position causing edges 6 and 7 of the blades 1 and 2 to perform a cutting action in well known manner.

Spring constraining means are provided between the handles 3 and 4 in the form of a spring metal strip 8 which is secured at one end to one of the handles whilst the other end of said strip 8 engages the other handle to hold said handles apart, but is movable along said other handle to enable the handles to be urged together. Inthe embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 said one end of the strip 8 is secured to the handle 4, for example by means of a screw, and the other end of said strip 8 is bent to form an arcuate portion 9 which is arranged to reside in and is capable of sliding along in a groove 10 (shown dotted in FIGURE 1) in the inner edge of the handle 3. In order to enable a clamp to be retained on each side of the blades 1 and 2 in such a way that when the blades 1 and 2 are brought together to perform a cutting operation, the clamps are brought into a clamping condition, retaining means are provided, one on each side of the pair of blades 1 and 2. In the embodiment shown each retaining means comprises a semicylindrical cup 11, 12 which has short radial flanges 13 on each side thereof and is disposed near the hinge 5 with its open side facing in the direction of the blades 1 and 2. The retainingmeans also comprises a pair of recessed retaining members 14 and 15, coupled respectively to the blades 1 and 2, and disposed beyond the ends of the blades 1 and 2 remote from the hinge 5, with the recesses in the members 14 and 15 facing each other. In this particular embodiment corresponding members 14 of the retaining means on the two sides of the blade 1 are integral with each other, said members 14 being in the form of a metal strip transverse to the plane of the blade 1 and the two recesses are formed between adjacent ones of three lugs projecting from said transverse strip. The transverse strip is integral with or secured to a curved strip 16 which is secured to the blade 1 close to the hinge 5 with the aid of lugs 17 which embrace said blade 1 and are secured thereto by means of a screw or rivet 18. Corresponding members 15 of the two retaining means are also integral with one another and are similar in form to that already described with reference to the members 14, being in the form of a transverse strip integral with a curved strip 19 which is secured to the blade 2 close to hinge 5 with the aid of lugs 20 which embrace the blade 2 and are secured thereto by means'of a screw or rivet 21. Conveniently the semi-cylindrical cups 11 and 12 are coupled together via a metal member 22 which embraces the lugs 20 and is secured to the blade 2 by the screw or rivet 21. Alternatively the cups 11 and 12 may be mounted independently of each other or may be secured to the other blade 1 or to one or other of the handles 3 and 4. A pin 23 is provided on the handle 4 and is disposed to act as a stop by abutting against the blade 1 to restrict the extent of opening of the pair of scissors.

As shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, one or both of each pair of members 14 and 15 may be provided with addi tional retaining means for an arm of a clamp, such additional means being shown only on the member 14 and being in the form of metal strips 24 extending from the respective transverse strip adjacent to the recesses therein and bent over above said recesses to resist movement of a clamp arm longitudinally out of the retaining means therefor.

The pair of scissors may be made of any suitable material, one such material being stainless steel, and if desired the outer edges of the handles may be grooved to facilitate gripping thereof. If desired the retaining means for clamps may be so positioned with respect to the blades 1 and 2 that the clamping action takes place prior to the cutting operation, or alternatively the two actions may be substantially simultaneous.

In FIGURE 4 one form of clamp suitable for use with the cutter shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 is shown. The clamp comprises a pair of clamping arms 25, 26 having 3,166,071 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 similar manner, so that when the handles a facing serrated edges, the two arms 25. and 26 being coupled together at one end via a resilient strip Z7..WhiCh i normally holds said arms 25 and 26 apart but which allows said armsZS' and 25 to be urged together. to perform a clamping action. Theclamp also includes means,

at the other end of the arms and 26 for retainingthe arms together in their clamping condition! In the clamp shown themeans comprises a clip 28 on the arm 25 which A is arranged to engage over an edgezil of the arm 26.'

The clamp shown in FIGURE 4 can .be'retained on one side of the blades 1 and 2 of the cutter shown in F1 URES 1 and 2, the resilient'strip 27 being located in the respective semi-cylindrical cup 11 or 12 with said other' of the clips 28 so that when the handles 3 and 4 are subsequently released toopen the blades 1 and 2 the clamps remain on the umbilical cord or other member which has been cut, and the cutter can be removed from said clamps.

Although one particular form of clamp has been shown in FIGURE 4 and described with reference thereto many other forms of clamp may be employed provided such.

can be retained on one side of the blades of the surgical cutters shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 andarrangedto.

perform a clamping action when a cutting operation is performed by said cutters; 7

Although the invention has been described with reference to one particular embodiment thereof this may be modified, for example by incorporating retaining means for a clamp on one side only of thecutter blades.

What I claim is: g V

1. A surgical cutter comprising a pair of blades each attached to a handle and a hinge coupling between said blades'and handles to form a pair of scissors, containing means normally constraining said pair of scissors to a position in which the blades are heldapart, a first clamp retaining member on oneside of said scissors, disposed and coupled to said scissors closeto said hinge coupling, a recess in said first clamp retaining member facing the blade end of said scissors, second and thirdclamp retaining members, one mounted on' each blade, disposed ad A. jacent the ends of the respective blades remote from the handles and both on saidone side of the scissors, and recesses insaid second and'third clamp retaining members facing each other, so that the recesses'in said second and third clamp retaining members are spaced apart when the blades of the scissors are apart, andsaid recesses in the second and third clamp retaining members are in proximity and substantial alignment with each other when the blades of the scissors are partially overlying each other in a closedposition; I

2. A surgical cutter according to claim 1 comprising an additional retaining member coupled to said second clamp retaining member and disposed in alignment with.

the recess in said second clampretaining member on the side of said second clampretainin'g member remote fromsaid first clamp, retaining member.

3. A surgical cutter comprising a pair of bladeseach attached to a handle and a hinge coupling between said.

blades and handles to form a pair of scissors, constraining means normally constraining said pair of scissors to a v position inwhich the blades are held apart, two first clamp retaining members, one on each side of said scis-.

sors; each disposed and coupled to said scissors close to said hinge coupling, a recess in each first clamp retaining member facing theblade end of said scissors, second and thirdclamp retaining members, one mounted on each blade, disposed adjacent the ends of the respective blades;

remote from the handles and extending on both sides of the scissors, and two recesses in each of said second and third clamp retaining members, one on each side of'said scissors, and the recesses in the second and third clamp retaining members on each side of the scissors. facing each other, so that thefacing recesses in said second and third clamp retainingmembers are spaced apart when the 7 in a closed position. v

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 640,517 ,1/00 Acheson 128-32 6 2,060,724 11/36, Carroll 128346 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SURGICAL CUTTER COMPRISING A PAIR OF BLADES EACH ATTACHED TO A HANDLE AND A HINGE COUPLING BETWEEN SAID BLADES AND HANDLES TO FORM A PAIR OF SCISSORS, CONTAINING MEANS NORMALLY CONSTRAINING SAID PAIR OF SCISSORS TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE BLADES ARE HELD APART, A FIRST CLAMP RETAINING MEMBER ON ONE SIDE OF SAID SCISSORS, DISPOSED AND COUPLED TO SAID SCISSORS CLOSE TO SAID HINGE COUPLING, A RECESS IN SAID FIRST CLAMP RETAINING MEMBER FACING THE BLADE END OF SAID SCISSORS, SECOND AND THIRD CLAMP RETAINING MEMBERS, ONE MOUNTED ON EACH BLADE, DISPOSED ADJACENT THE ENDS OF THE RESPECTIVE BLADES REMOTE FROM THE HANDLES AND BOTH ON SAID ONE SIDE OF THE SCISSORS, AND RECESSES IN SAID SECOND AND THIRD CLAMP RETAINING MEMBERS FACING EACH OTHER, SO THAT THE RECESSES IN SAID SECOND AND THIRD CLAMP RETAINING MEMBERS ARE SPECED APART WHEN THE BLADES OF THE SCISSORS ARE APART, AND SAID RECESSES IN THE SECOND AND THIRD CLAMP RETAINING MEMBERS ARE IN PROXIMITY AND SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE BLADES OF THE SCISSORS ARE PARTIALLY OVERLYING EACH OTHER IN A CLOSED POSITION. 